- South Australia deregulated its electricity and gas retail prices in 2013 so energy providers need to offer good deals if they want to keep their customers.
- If you're not happy with how much you're paying, you're free to compare electricity rates in SA from other providers and move elsewhere.
Electricity and gas providers in South Australia
Who's offering the cheapest energy rates this month? (March 2020)
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To start the month of March, the following plans for electricity and gas came up top for estimated price in South Australia:
- Cheapest electricity. Powershop Shopper Market Offer at $411.74 per quarter
- Cheapest gas. AGL Residential Essential Savers at $120.16per quarter
Compare cheap energy retailers in SA
Cheapest electricity in SA for March 2020
The Powershop Shopper Market Offer plan is the cheapest choice for South Australians.
Rates
| Estimated quarterly price ($) | Supply (c/day) | Usage (c/kWh) | Solar (c/kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 411.74 | 119.12 | 37.60 | 10.2 |
Key benefits
- No lock-in contract or exit fees.
- 10 day cooling off period.
- No connection fee when moving.
- Flexible payment options.
Limitations
- You must pre-purchase energy in the form of Powerpacks from the Powershop to access its lowest prices.
- Variable rates may change at any time.
Cheapest gas plans in SA for March 2020
The cheapest natural gas plan for South Australia is the AGL Residential Essential Savers plan.
| Estimated quarterly price ($) | Supply (c/day) | Usage (c/MJ) |
|---|---|---|
| 120.16 | 72.96 | 3.86, dropping to 3.49 after 110MJ of use. |
Key benefits
- No lock-in contract or exit fees.
- 10 day cooling off period.
- 12 month benefit period.
Limitations
- Credit card payment fees.
- Have to sign up online.
- No GreenPower options.
- Variable rates may change at any time.
What are the 20 cheapest electricity plans in SA?
Although the cheapest plans may vary based on the type of tariff, your location, your household and your usage, you can get a general idea of which is the cheapest using this table.
| Brand | Plan name | Difference from reference price | Conditional discount? | Estimated price (per 91 days) | Estimated price (Annual) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kogan Energy | Kogan Energy Market Offer | 17% less | N/A | $402.45 | $1,609.80 |
| Diamond Energy | Everyday Renewable Saver | 7% less (without conditional discounts) | Further 7% off the reference price if you always pay on time and 3% off the reference price when you pay by Direct Debit. | $407.65 | $1,630.60 |
| Powerclub | Powerbank Home Flat | 15% | N/A | $410.28 | $1,641.12 |
| Origin Energy | Origin Max Saver | 14% less | N/A | $417.13 | $1,668.52 |
| AGL | Residential Essentials Saver - No Exit Fee | 13% less | N/A | $421.74 | $1,686.96 |
| Powerdirect | Powerdirect Residential Discount Saver - No Exit Fee | 13% less | N/A | $421.85 | $1,687.40 |
| Elysian Energy | Elysian Market Residential Simple Plan (SAPN) | 9% (without conditional discounts) | Further 5% discount off usage applies when the account is paid by the due date. | $427.17 | $1,708.68 |
| Momentum Energy | Smile Power Flexi_RSR | 11% | N/A | $429.59 | $1,718.36 |
| Powershop | PowershopLITE | 9% less | N/A | $443.56 | $1,774.24 |
| Mojo Power | SE Legacy Standing offer | 8% less | N/A | $444.06 | $1,776.24 |
| Commander Power & GasXXX | Residential Market | 8% less | N/A | $445.39 | $1,781.56 |
| Dodo Power & Gas | Residential Market | 8% less | N/A | $445.39 | $1,781.56 |
| Lumo Energy | Lumo Basic | 8% less | N/A | $445.99 | $1,783.96 |
| Simply Energy | SA Simply Low Rates | 7% less | N/A | $449.75 | $1,799.00 |
| Red Energy | Living Energy Saver | 7% less | N/A | $453.19 | $1,812.76 |
| EnergyAustralia | No Frills | 6% less | N/A | $455.07 | $1,820.28 |
| Energy Locals | Local Saver - Anytime | 5% | N/A | $462.13 | $1,848.52 |
| Click Energy | Click Banksia Plus | 3% less | N/A | $470.27 | $1,881.08 |
| amaysim | amaysim Electricity as you go | 2% less | N/A | $474.73 | $1,898.92 |
| QEnergy | Home Your Way SR RSR | Equal to reference price | N/A | $483.08 | $1,932.32 |
Make sure you check the Basic Plan Information for the plans above.
Is electricity expensive in SA?
...on average, a household could be charged around $1,560 annually.
SA is one of the more expensive states for electricity, with the average rate being $0.39 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
What does this mean?
Standard household usage in SA is around 4,000 kWh over a year. This means a household could be charged is around $1,560 annually ($0.39 x 4,000) on average.
Note: This example is a general guide and doesn't include fixed daily supply charges and other fees. Household usage has been taken from AER's Default Market Offer Prices Report and is based on the SA Power Network.
List of energy providers in SA
South Australia residents can choose from the following energy retailers:
| Link to provider review | ⚡ Electricity | ♨️ Gas | ☀️ Solar |
|---|---|---|---|
| AGL | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Alinta | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| amaysim | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Amber Electric | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Click Energy | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Commander | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Diamond Energy | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Discover Energy | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Dodo | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Energy Locals | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| EnergyAustralia | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Lumo Energy | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Momentum Energy | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Origin Energy | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Powerdirect | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Powerclub | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Powershop | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| QEnergy | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| ReAmped | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Red Energy | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Simply Energy | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Main energy plans in SA
AGL - Residential Essentials Saver
Variable rate electricity with flexible payment options and choice of monthly billing. You don't have to pay any exit fees, and you get a benefit period of 12 months. Customers have a choice of between 10 and 100% GreenPower.
EnergyAustralia - Total Plan Home
With the Total Plan, you receive fixed energy rates and a guaranteed discount off your entire electricity bill for the benefit period of 12 months. Customers who opt in receive complete carbon offsets on their power after 6 months, plus the option of 10 to 100% GreenPower. Can be billed monthly.
Origin - Max Saver
Get variable rate electricity with a benefit period of 12 months. To join this plan, you have to accept online communications and billing, pay by direct debit, and install the Origin app. You won't have to pay exit fees, and there are options of 25 to 100% GreenPower.
Powershop - Shopper Market Offer
A variable rate electricity plan with no connection fee when you change to a new property, with flexible payments and monthly billing. Pre-purchasing your energy in the Powershop will let you receive significant extra savings on your power bill. You may also choose to add 100% GreenPower.
Lumo Energy - Lumo Basic
Simple variable rate electricity with flexible payment options and the choice of monthly billing. No lock-in contract or benefit period, and the option of 10% GreenPower.
How to get cheaper energy
- Compare base rates. The actual amount you pay per unit of energy is the most important part of an energy plan. After all other discounts and features have been accounted for, lower base usage rates generally mean cheaper electricity.
- Examine discounts. Discounts are offered as conditional, where you have to meet certain conditions for them to apply, and guaranteed, which apply no matter what. Both only apply for the benefit period listed on your contract, though guaranteed discounts are usually better.
- Tariff alternatives. Rather than sticking to a default single rate, you might consider a time of use tariff depending on when you use your energy. If most of your energy use is in the morning and early afternoon, a time of use tariff can help you save by splitting the day into more expensive peak times and cheaper off-peak periods. Primarily off-peak power usage may translate to a smaller bill.
- Review plans regularly. Staying on a plan for a long time doesn't usually bring any advantages, since variable rates can change and benefit periods expire after a year or two. Shopping around for a new energy plan every year or so can help you secure a better deal on your energy.
Key terms in SA
1. Understand these terms before you compare
To ensure you have access to the best electricity deals, here are the key terms you should understand and look out for:
2. Review your personal needs
The more competitive the energy market in South Australia, the more choices you have as a consumer. Lots of providers offer discounts, tailored plans and special offers depending on when and how you use your electricity and gas, so taking your personal needs into account is essential to getting the best deal. Before buying, ask yourself:
- What time of the day do you use the most electricity and gas?
- Are you happy to pay by credit card if it means you can receive a discount? Or do you want to pay through direct debit?
- Do you prefer a single rate tariff? If you are generally always home, this might be the way to go.
- Would you rather a tariff that changes based on the time of day? If you're only home at later times, it might be worth considering a 'time of day' tariff.
Knowing the answer to these questions should make it much easier to find the cheapest electricity plans in SA.
3. Compare plan features
If you're ready to compare plan features, here's what to look for:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Tariff options | You can usually choose between a single rate tariff or one that charges you a time of use tariff. |
| Discounts | You can get discounts for paying on time, for signing long-term contracts and for bundling gas and electricity plans together. Many energy plans offer discounts — the key is to find one that extends its discounts to customers beyond the first stages of your contract. |
| Cancellation fees | Watch out for policies with termination fees. This can range from around $40 to $100 and will be specified in your contract. No-lock-in contracts are a viable alternative if you don't want cancellation fees. |
| Payment | If you're not sure you will be able to pay bills on time with one form of payment, go for a flexible plan. If you want to save, you can often get a discount for paying with a credit card. |
| Digital energy tools | You can measure your energy consumption with a range of apps and online tools. Knowing exactly what and where your energy use comes from could help you find a better deal in the future. |
Consider adding in definitions of "standing offer", "reference price", and "default market offer (DMO)" instead of leaving in a separate section. Also consider cutting or condensing entries like tariff types and termination fees (almost no energy plans have fixed contracts with exit fees).
Switching
Your choice of retail provider can make a noticeable difference to the size of your energy bill. Once you've compared electricity and gas plans and chosen a new provider, it's relatively easy to switch. It's simply a matter of applying with the new provider and cancelling your existing plan. Your new provider should generally be able to supply your energy by the next day.
Picture: GettyImages
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